Category: Human Rights

According to a news release by the UN human rights office (OHCHR), at least 13 people, among the 18 arrested by coup leaders on 18 August, are still being held illegally, at the Kati military camp in Bamako, in spite of calls for their release from global and regional leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson… Read More

In his message for the day, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed encouragement that some countries have been providing public health announcements and information on COVID-19 with national sign language interpretation.  And he repeated his call for COVID-19 response and recovery measures to be “accessible to all”.  Disability plan The UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, which was launched last year, aims to strengthen… Read More

After banging the gavel to open this year’s General Debate, Volkan Bozkir painted a picture of pummeled economies, overwhelmed healthcare systems and disrupted education, due to the coronavirus. Highlighting that “the most vulnerable have suffered most”, he drew attention to the situation of refugees and migrants; surging risks of gender-based violence; children in the crosshairs of exploitation; and the rise… Read More

“Impunity is a distinctive trait of most enforced disappearances, and it has a multiplying effect, generating additional suffering and anguish for the victims and their families”, Luciano Hazan, the Chair of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.  On behalf of the five-member team, he presented a thematic report on the standards and public policies needed for effective investigation of these cases.  “States must also guarantee… Read More

At the end of a memorable day of back-and-forth discussions between the Council President and delegations – featuring more than a dozen points of order by delegations who questioned the right of some of those addressing the Council to speak and no less than 17 amendments to a European-Union sponsored call for action – the Geneva-based forum finally adopted a resolution on… Read More

Michelle Bachelet warned that the human rights situation in places such as Afrin, Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad, is grim, with violence and criminality rife.    An alarming pattern of grave violations has been documented in these areas in recent months, such as increased killings, kidnappings, and unlawful transfers of people, as well as seizures of land and properties, her… Read More

In their findings published on Wednesday, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela cited evidence of unlawful executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture in the country since 2014. Senior military and ministerial figures were likely aware of the crimes, said the investigators, who were appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva in September last year. Orders given “They gave orders,… Read More

The warning comes from UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, who presented his first report to a virtual session of the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday.  “Historical levels of underemployment or unemployment, loss of livelihoods and uncertain economic perspectives are some of the complex consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic which have hit the most vulnerable… Read More

The Commission’s 25-page report documented continuing violations by nearly every fighting force controlling territory across the country. It also highlighted an increase in patterns of targeted abuse, such as assassinations, sexual and gender-based violence, and looting or appropriation of private property.   3/7 COI Chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro: suffering is compounded by the deepening economic crisis, tightening sanctions and the #COVID-19… Read More

Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underlined the importance of democracy for ensuring free flow of information, participation in decision-making and accountability for the response to COVID-19.  Well before #COVID19, frustration was rising & trust in public authorities was declining. Governments must do more to listen to people demanding change. On this #DemocracyDay, let’s seize… Read More